Lamar Smith

TEXAS' 21st DISTRICT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), released the following statement after voting today in favor H.R. 2, a bill to permanently repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate, or SGR. The bill would provide more stability for Medicare patients, and result in savings for the taxpayer. The bill passed by a vote of 392-37.

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today announced he is subpoenaing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Smith has led recent efforts to increase transparency and accountability at the EPA, fight costly new EPA ozone regs, and put a check on the agency’s plans for sweeping new water rules.

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after voting in favor of H.Con. Res. 27, A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America, which passed in the House of Representatives:

Congressman Smith: “For the sixth year in a row, President Obama has handed Congress a tax-and-spend, big-government budget that never balances. It ignores our growing national debt and punishes hard-working taxpayers.

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to reports that the military will charge Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy in an Article 32 hearing Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio:

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement in response to an admission this week from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that the agency released 30,558 criminal immigrants in 2014.

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) – in conjunction with the American Center for Law and Justice – today filed an amicus brief with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the federal district court’s decision to halt President Obama’s executive overreach on immigration in Texas vs. the United States.

Congressman Lamar Smith, chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee today held a hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. Despite the fact that many communities have struggled to meet current ozone standards, the Obama administration insists on pursuing an even stricter regulatory agenda.

SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Lamar Smith today participated in the FIRST Robotics Alamo Regional Championship in San Antonio. Smith, who chairs the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, delivered opening remarks for the robotics competition. More than 3,000 students, parents, and teachers attended the regional competition.

Congressman Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives today reversed its attempts to ban the M855 "green tip" ammo used by AR-15 owners.

Congressman Smith: “I welcome the ATF’s decision to abandon its backdoor ban on bullets. Their plan would have infringed upon the Second Amendment rights of millions of law-abiding gun owners. I will continue to oppose any and all efforts by this administration to undermine the constitutional freedoms guaranteed to every citizen.”

Committee Assignments

He serves as Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over programs at NASA, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The Committee oversees agency budgets of $39 billion, where the primary focus is on research and development.

Congressman Smith continues to serve on both the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. He is a former Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Ethics Committee.

In the last Congress, Congressman Smith was named Policymaker of the Year by POLITICO for his work on patent reform legislation.

A fifth generation Texan and native of San Antonio, Congressman Smith graduated from Yale University and Southern Methodist University School of Law. He and his wife, Beth, have an adult daughter and son.

The 21st Congressional District includes parts of Bexar, Travis, Comal and Hays Counties and all of Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Real Counties. The district’s population is about 700,000. Congressman Smith maintains district offices in San Antonio, Austin and Kerrville.